Hutch Cover And Floor Space Worries

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helenv87

helenv87

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I'm hoping you can help

When would you put the hutch cover on an outside hutch? I was considering doing it the other day but then it suddenly got warmer so I'm glad I didn't or they would have been too hot.
i have no way of bringing my Guinea pigs indoors or placing the hutch in a shed.
I don't want to put the cover on too soon


My second worry is, I currently bring them inside for a few hours when I can for floor time, I don't really have space in the garden for them to have floor time as my only grassy area is hidden and not in view all the time and id feel awful leaving them there unattended where as indoors I can keep an eye on them easily all the time.
I've heard doing this in the winter months will make them sick, but I'm worried just leaving them in the hutch during the winter will make them cramped and unhappy :(
Is there a way I could still being them in and out for floor time whilst not making them sick

Thanks
 
I don't think you can bring them in and out during the Winter - the temperature difference is too great.

The best thing you can do is start weather proofing your hutch as soon as possible. Try adding insulating and covering all the small gaps.
Invest in lots of high quality bedding, and snuggle safe heat pads.

How big is your outdoor hutch?
Is there any way you can extend it so they still have lots of space in the Winter?
 
Swissgreys said:
I don't think you can bring them in and out during the Winter - the temperature difference is too great.

The best thing you can do is start weather proofing your hutch as soon as possible. Try adding insulating and covering all the small gaps.
Invest in lots of high quality bedding, and snuggle safe heat pads.

How big is your outdoor hutch?
Is there any way you can extend it so they still have lots of space in the Winter?
Click to expand...


I can't remember how big the hutch is I'd have to measure it lol, it's the hutch I was given with them when I adopted them - I have tried to increase the surface area they have to run around by adding a house with a ramp which means they can climb ontop of the house and go underneath it, the love it and sometimes just jump ontop of it without using the ramp lol
I'm not sure how I could add to it giving them more space,the hutch currently fits against the wall of my house inbetween the house and some bushes - I was hoping the bushes might also help provide shelter in the winter
 
Have to say, I've always brought my pigs in and out during the winters. None of them were ever ill.
My current pigs I've only had since January and their shed is insulated but not heated and the dining room is not particularly warm and they've not had an issue with it (not a very cold winter though either) if the temperature dropped too much outside in the winter then they'd be brought in until it got a bit milder, just as they're inside now, and have been for the past month or so, as it's too hot in the shed!
 
I have the insulated and waterproof cover to put on and might also add extra insulating material underneath between the wood and cover.
I did think about adding insulation around the actual sleeping house inside the hutch, but it would have to be something that wouldn't harm them if they somehow chewed it - also I think only 1 of them sleep in it :( so I'm waiting for delivery of another sleeping thing just incase lol
 
I've been looking at outdoor wooden runs to see if I could add one of those so they have somewhere to go during the winter months so I'm not bringing them in and out I can't get a big one though and my hutch will have to somehow sit ontop of it with a ramp to the bottom
Is there a way of working out what sort of ramp you could have that a Guinea pig would go up and down without it being too steap

Here is a picture of the wooden run I was thinking of getting

image.webp
 
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I'm no expert on outdoor piggies as mine live indoors but would it not get too cold for them to use a run outdoors in winter?

If I'm just being a worrier (!) and winter runs are fine, could you put your hutch actually in the run instead of on top?
 
*kate* said:
I'm no expert on outdoor piggies as mine live indoors but would it not get too cold for them to use a run outdoors in winter?

If I'm just being a worrier (!) and winter runs are fine, could you put your hutch actually in the run instead of on top?
Click to expand...

My plan was to bring them inside to run around for floor time but I've been told doing that will make them sick, I don't know how else to give them floor time during winter as I can't move them indoors :(

The space where the hutch is isn't very big, I wouldn't be able to fit one that is big enough for the hutch to go inside which is why I though maybe saving space and putting it ontop might be an idea
 
My pigs have all lived outside (barring one winter of medical emergency) due to my OHs extremely bad asthma.

They have a big 6ft hutch with plenty of bedding and extra waterproofing and insulation in the winter. I keep up a regular rotation of boxes and tunnels to keep the hutch varied for them, and as it's a nice big hutch they do have room for a bit of a frolic if the mood takes them.

I've always given my pigs the option of having a run around outside on nicer days. I don't have any way of connecting a run to their hutch, but when the weather was dry, even if it was cold, I'd offer them half an hour or so outside in their run. The choice was theirs.

I'd put them out in a cat carrier that was well stuffed with hay and leave them to it. If they fancied a scamper they could have one, if they didn't they stayed in the carrier. I monitored the situation - usually as I did a big hutch clean out. If they were rampaging round the run at top speed I left them to it for a bit, if they were huddled in their carrier looking distinctly unimpressed by the situation they came back in to a clean dry hutch as soon as it was ready for them.

I wouldn't put them out on frosty ground, or if it was raining - but apart from that let the pigs be your guide. If you know them well enough they'll let you know. We do get some fairly mild days even in the middle of winter. I know mine, especially whey they were young, appreciated a frolic.

Now we've moved house, so I'll be installing a pig shed asap. This should allow space for a winter indoor run. Would that be a possibility for you?
 
Hi. Just an idea on insulating their hidey houses. Stuff them with hay. If you want to, you could also use a cardboard box either over or inside the hidey (depending on size) and then stuff hay in the gap between the box and the hidey. That will also act as insulation.

I would use an old duvet between your insulated hutch cover and the hutch itself if you can.
 
i use the snuggle heat pads in winter when temp is 3 degrees and below.put lots of hay in and change it daily.ive a two tier hutch,ive taken ramp out and use the bottom area as aplay area as it is 8 feet in lenght and 2 feet wide,i physically place the pigs in bottom area in colder weather so can exercise.another few piggies have a big pen in shed to exercise.pen can be folded.ive alot of piggies hence the different areas,some are indoor.is there an unused garage without car,shed,or sheltered area that could be used?car port,conservatory?it is difficult/or a pen that fleece could be used and run be waterproofed.good luck,i hope you find a solution.:)
 
His @helenv87 .... I'm in a similar situ. Where space is small. Looks like I have a similar size hutch.. with 2 levels but don't feel they would get their exercise in just that through the winter... what I was planning and I may be very wrong was to just open the utility door so the colder air comes in a little then let them out on the floor there for a while. Sure shutting the door into the main house will keep just that room a little colder. I can't fit a shed in the garden and am not able due OH to bring them indoors. .. does anyone think that won't work? Could you do similar? Let us know if you have a brainwave. . Need all the advise we can
 
Jojessgaz said:
His @helenv87 .... I'm in a similar situ. Where space is small. Looks like I have a similar size hutch.. with 2 levels but don't feel they would get their exercise in just that through the winter... what I was planning and I may be very wrong was to just open the utility door so the colder air comes in a little then let them out on the floor there for a while. Sure shutting the door into the main house will keep just that room a little colder. I can't fit a shed in the garden and am not able due OH to bring them indoors. .. does anyone think that won't work? Could you do similar? Let us know if you have a brainwave. . Need all the advise we can
Click to expand...
I think so long as the temperature is the same as it is in their hutch in your utility room after you've had the door open for a bit, that should work fine. Assuming you're aiming for it to be around 15 degrees centigrade in their hutch (as they don't really get on with it being much lower), I'm sure you should be able to get your utility room to that. You can get a cheap room temp thermometer thing to check it with.

Just be careful not to have it draughty if you're leaving the door open to keep the temp down while they are in.

I've got visions of you standing in hat, coat and gloves watching them:P. But it's lovely that you're prepared to do it to give them the change of scenery and run around.
 
@PiggySmitten would the room temperate thing work to keep an eye on how low the temperature in the hutch goes?

@Jojessgaz that sounds like a nice idea, I hope it works for you.
Unfortunately I don't have a utility room or anything like that I could use, my front door leads into the living room and I don't have a back door as I don't have a back garden We don't have the space indoors to keep them, but even if we did I'm not sure if the OH would let them come inside.
We are goofily going to do some gardening in a few weeks and see if the plguijea pig hutch could be adapted more and/or moved to another part of the garden where a run could be attached
 
helenv87 said:
@PiggySmitten would the room temperate thing work to keep an eye on how low the temperature in the hutch goes?

@Jojessgaz that sounds like a nice idea, I hope it works for you.
Unfortunately I don't have a utility room or anything like that I could use, my front door leads into the living room and I don't have a back door as I don't have a back garden We don't have the space indoors to keep them, but even if we did I'm not sure if the OH would let them come inside.
We are goofily going to do some gardening in a few weeks and see if the plguijea pig hutch could be adapted more and/or moved to another part of the garden where a run could be attached
Click to expand...
I think it could do, yes.

If you could work out a way to keep it in the hutch but so the piggies can't get at it you could even maybe use an old baby monitor that would tell you on the parent monitor you keep with you. what the temperature is in the hutch. I've got an old Tommee Tippee one which does this and runs on batteries. I used mine for children in their rooms not piggies though.

I know you want to do what's best for them but I would choose a sheltered spot and not being able to bring them out over a more exposed spot where you could attach a run. I suppose buying a bigger hutch is out of the question? Have you checked sites like preloved and freeads to see if there is anything cheap and suitable in your area?
 
PiggySmitten said:
I think it could do, yes.

If you could work out a way to keep it in the hutch but so the piggies can't get at it you could even maybe use an old baby monitor that would tell you on the parent monitor you keep with you. what the temperature is in the hutch. I've got an old Tommee Tippee one which does this and runs on batteries. I used mine for children in their rooms not piggies though.

I know you want to do what's best for them but I would choose a sheltered spot and not being able to bring them out over a more exposed spot where you could attach a run. I suppose buying a bigger hutch is out of the question? Have you checked sites like preloved and freeads to see if there is anything cheap and suitable in your area?
Click to expand...

I'll have to look into them as it would be good to know what the temp is like in the hutch, I'll have to see if I can find one that would record the temp over a few hours so I can what it drops to overnight.

I think the hutch will get the same amount of exposure in the different places I could move it to as my garden isn't very sheltered as I don't have any fences, it's all open with a few trees or small bushes.
I've looked into buying a bigger hutch but I don't think we have space for anything wider than the hutch we have now, there's one possible place where we might be able to fit a taller hutch which is why I was thinking I could put it ontop of the run.
I don't really want to buy a new hutch though as I haven't had the one we have now very long and we got it new when we adopted the Guinea pigs x
 
I've just bought a min max outdoor thermometer they look like a little house with a roof. It was on both amazon and ebay at £6 for either green or white Thought it was going to be too big so thought could use it anyway to check temp outside if it won't fit inside hutch. It does nicely over the run that take them up and downstairs. Will be getting another now to check the utility too.
 
Jojessgaz said:
I've just bought a min max outdoor thermometer they look like a little house with a roof. It was on both amazon and ebay at £6 for either green or white Thought it was going to be too big so thought could use it anyway to check temp outside if it won't fit inside hutch. It does nicely over the run that take them up and downstairs. Will be getting another now to check the utility too.
Click to expand...

How does it work?
Is it possible to look at previous temps such at overnight whilst I'm asleep and the temp will be at its lowest
 
Yes... there are 3 temps on the display... top I think is max... middle one is the temp now and bottom is the min. So it will show you what it is now and you can see what the temp dipped to lowest and reached for highest. They there is a clear button to reset them all and start again. Even comes with a battery ready! Not sure how accurate it is as I have nothing to check it with but it seems very good and the reviews were great for it. Will try and send a link but i am hopeless with things that are more taxing than type and send:))
 
So glad I found this thread. I have 2 8 week old piggies and they have a single height 5ft hutch and a separate wooden run for in the garden. They will have to remain outside and I have plans for insulation, waterproofing the hutch but am concerned about them getting lots of exercise and handling time. I had read about temperature changes affecting the piggies and cannot decide what to do for the best....
 
if you also insulate the underside of the hutch (some hutches have slide out plastic trays that can get cold) the pigs will be nice and toasty. I find the only problem with out door pigs in winter is moisture in the air, if you can make sure that the hay is changed a lot so they are not sitting on their damp hay (from their own pee!) they should do fine. I am also switching from fleece and hay to fleece, hay and snowflake bedding (snowflake under a layer of hay) as I find the hay will remain drier that way.:)
 
smileyface:) said:
if you also insulate the underside of the hutch (some hutches have slide out plastic trays that can get cold) the pigs will be nice and toasty. I find the only problem with out door pigs in winter is moisture in the air, if you can make sure that the hay is changed a lot so they are not sitting on their damp hay (from their own pee!) they should do fine. I am also switching from fleece and hay to fleece, hay and snowflake bedding (snowflake under a layer of hay) as I find the hay will remain drier that way.:)
Click to expand...
I'm on fleece up top and snowflake and hay below... with newspaper under all... what's your set up . Do you think the fleece is warmer than loads of hay?
 
i know the piggies love snuggling in hay but they do quickly flatten it, pee on it, and so I don't think it's enough to keep them warm alone - so fleece igloos are great - I cut the bases off so they can sit on the hay, or over fleece mats. A good combo in winter IMO is newspaper liner, snowlfake, hay on top, and then a fleece igloo on top, or a cardboard box shelter - that way they can snuggle in the box or igloo and keep toasty - oh, and the heat pads are excellent too on top of the hay, in a fleece cover.
 
oh, just realised as you have a double hutch - yes, at present my pigs are fleece in outside area and hay in bedroom, but if all the hay is in one place they will be lazy and stay in the bedroom all day as well as night! So to encourage them out into the outer room with the wire door I try to give them hay during the day in there, this lets the bedroom get a chance to air a bit and not all the pee will be going in there 24/7

I do think fleece has it's merits outside but like anything else it's got to stay dry, esp in winter, and I find coming into winter that pee won't evaporate the way it would in summer and so you need to change the fleece more often. So hopefully using the snowflake will ensure any puddles are absorbed.
 
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